Patent US4018222A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3792243A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for encoding positions of mechanisms
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1971-12-30
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Granted: 1974-02-12
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Expires: 1991-12-30
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed herein a method of digitizing two or three dimensional mechanisms in varied positions. If the object to be encoded is a fixed model, then such model in its fixed position is encoded. If the object is a movable mechanism, then the mechanism can be encoded in several positions whereby there can be provided a set of the mechanism''s motions. The method includes the steps of providing a plurality of coordinates pickup points on the object or mechanism to be encoded. These points are sensed in Cartesian coordinates orientation, using a capacitance tablet, for example, to provide the Cartesian coordinates information for each of the sensed points. The Cartesian coordinates information is suitably provided to a digital computer interactive graphics device combination wherein, utilizing the Cartesian coordinate points information of the sensed points, a displayable projection of the object or mechanism can be calculated and such projection can be displayed on the screen of the interactive graphics device. Where it is desired to encode a three-dimensional mechanism, the encoding information can be obtained in perpendicular capacitance tablet planes or in poses displaced by 90* to enable the providing of X, Y and Z coordinates information. In addition, if the mechanism is of a movable type, then it can be encoded in different positions and, in the computer, the encodings for these different positions can be extrapolated to enable the calculations of a series of displayable projections which form an animated sequence. The projections can be calculated, using the Cartesian coordinates information, to provide either two- or three-dimensional projections.
Inventors
- 👤 A Appel
- 👤 A Stein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:48
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/033; G06F3/048; G06F3/0484; G06F3/04842; G06T; G06T1/00; G06T1/0007; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S345/00; Y10S345/949; Y10S345/95; Y10S345/951; Y10S345/96
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for encoding an inanimate object comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of sensable coordinates pickup points on said object; sensing said pickup points in coordinates orientation to provide said coordinates information for each of said points; providing said sensed coordinates information to a digital computer for storing said information in said computer; and calculating in said computer, utilizing only said points coordinates information, a displayable projection of said object.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for encoding an inanimate object comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of sensable coordinates pickup points on said object; sensing said pickup points in coordinates orientation to provide said coordinates information for each of said points; providing said sensed coordinates information to a digital computer for storing said information in said computer; and calculating in said computer, utilizing only said points coordinates information, a displayable projection of said object.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for encoding different positions of movable mechanisms comprising the steps of: providing on said mechanism a plurality of sensable coordinates pickup points; disposing said mechanism in different planar orientations relative to the plane of the surface of a device which in response to the projectionS thereonto of sensed points produces Cartesian coordinates information relative to said sensed points; sensing said pickup points for said different planar orientations of said mechanism; storing in a computer said Cartesian coordinates information produced by said device for each of said orientations; and calculating in said computer utilizing said coordinates information, displayable projections of said mechanism in each of said orientations.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for encoding different positions of movable mechanisms comprising the steps of: providing on said mechanism a plurality of sensable coordinates pickup points; disposing said mechanism in different planar orientations relative to the plane of the surface of a device which in response to the projectionS thereonto of sensed points produces Cartesian coordinates information relative to said sensed points; sensing said pickup points for said different planar orientations of said mechanism; storing in a computer said Cartesian coordinates information produced by said device for each of said orientations; and calculating in said computer utilizing said coordinates information, displayable projections of said mechanism in each of said orientations.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as defined in claim 2 wherein there is further calculated by interpolation, positions of said mechanism intermediate said planar orientations to produce an animated sequence of the movements of said mechanism.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
133 words
A method for encoding movable mechanisms to produce a series of displayable projections which can be displayed sequentially to provide an animated sequence comprising the steps of: providing on said mechanism a plurality of sensable coordinates pickup points, projecting said mechanism relative to the surface of tablet means which is associated with a computer controlled interactive graphics device in different orientations; sensing said pickup points for said different orientations of said mechanism to cause the projection of said sensed points on the surface of said tablet means; generating in said tablet means Cartesian coordinates information for said sensed points; providing said Cartesian coordinates information to said computer for storing said information in said computer; and calculating in said computer utilizing said coordinates information displayable projections of said mechanism in each of said orientations.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
133 words
A method for encoding movable mechanisms to produce a series of displayable projections which can be displayed sequentially to provide an animated sequence comprising the steps of: providing on said mechanism a plurality of sensable coordinates pickup points, projecting said mechanism relative to the surface of tablet means which is associated with a computer controlled interactive graphics device in different orientations; sensing said pickup points for said different orientations of said mechanism to cause the projection of said sensed points on the surface of said tablet means; generating in said tablet means Cartesian coordinates information for said sensed points; providing said Cartesian coordinates information to said computer for storing said information in said computer; and calculating in said computer utilizing said coordinates information displayable projections of said mechanism in each of said orientations.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as defined in claim 4 wherein the capacitance tablet means has a stylus associated therewith, said stylus being utilized to sense said points on said mechanism.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as defined in claim 4 wherein selectively actuable wires are utilized to sense said points on said movable mechanism.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as defined in claim 6 wherein said selectively actuable wires are actuated by a selector switch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as defined in claim 4 wherein there is utilized a model of the mechanism to be encoded which contains movable sections that can be placed in different positions for the encoding of Cartesian coordinates formation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
73 words
A method as defined in claim 4 wherein the calculating comprises the steps of: calculating the direction cosines of different sections of said mannequin for said orientations; calculating and storing the positions of fixed points for intermediate time periods; locating and storing by linear interpolation of said direction cosines the positions in space of movable points for intermediate time periods; calculating and storing projections of said orientations and said intermediate time period positions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as defined in claim 9 wherein the projections which are calculated are isometric whereby there can be displayed on said interactive graphics device, all of said projections in an animated sequence.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-11 | 1977-08-13 | 1978-02-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-11 | 1981-08-13 | 1982-02-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-11 | 1985-08-13 | 1986-02-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |